The Irish standard., 1887-02-12
GROWTH OF THE CHURCH.
It's Early History in the Island Of New
founlZand-The Cornerstone Of The
Faith Laid by Father UDonnell.
VERY REV. NJ. A. FITZGERALD,

Principal Of st. Bonaventure's College, St.
Johns, N. F., Publishes an Interesting
Historical Sketch on this Subject.
Side by side with the progress OF
Catholicitp in the United States is the
growth and the glory of the Catholic
Church in Newfoundland, 60 quote
from a recently published historical
sketcl, by Very Rey. M. A. Fitzgerald,
principal Of St. Bonaventure's College,
St. Johns. In 1854, the first authorized
English missionary came to- this colony.
He was no other than the humble and
self-sacrifcing franciscan priest, DIR.
O'Donneli, who laid deep and solid the
corner stone Of our faitn, the founda~
lion OF our Church. He received his
commission of prefect apostolic Of all
Newfoundland in the same year from
the Pontiff who appointed the Very
Rev. John Carroll, superior or prefect
of the missions in the United States
Before the arrival of DR.. O'Donnell,
the Catholic religion was prescribed in
this country. The same penal laws
which forced the sons and daughters OF
Erin from their homes met them in the
land Of their adoption. And though
the Roman Catholics formed Cnehalf
the population Of the whole island
towards the middle of the last century,
nevertheless they wereinter(,icted from
exercising the rights Of their church
and subjected to severe liabilities fer
the crime of being Catholics. No
Catholic could hold any position OF
trust under the crown: and govern
merit officials at their installations were
Obliged to sign declarations abjuring
the Catholic faith. Moreover, the laws
forbade Catholics to educate their chill
dren, and to acquire freehold properly
and to aspire to the liberal professions,
while they encouraged proselyteism and
subyerted the rights OF patrimony. A
tax was imposed BY Governor Webb,
and several Of his successors. Or al!
Roman Catholics who settled down i'll
the country The introduction OF
priests was especially forbidden, and
their miuistrations made amenable to
heavy fines orimprisonmenJ NotWith-
standing these restrictions, Catholic
clergymen from Ireland came now and
again in disguise to Newfoundland,
and rninistered to the spiritual wants OF
their rfell0wcountrymen There being yet
no chapel or house of prayer, the holy
sacrifice was celebrated and the sacra-
nlet,ts were administered in private
houses or tishing~roo1ns, at the peril Of
the congregation as well as the cele-
brant. Such was the state of Catbol-
lefty in Newfoundland one hundred
and odd years ago. Old prejudices
gradually disappear with the declining
wears of the eighteenth century: bet
ter feeling prevails aud the dawn of a
new and bright era arises for Catholics.
In 1854, when George III was king"
a royal proclamation was issued by
Governor Campbell, relaxing the bonds
of Roman Catholics. granting them
freedom Of conscience, and freedom to
exercise their religion. 1t was in this
same year ct federation thai DR.. O'Don-
nell landed in the island, carrying to
his benighted and long suffering coun-
t;rvmen The message OF charity, the lamp
of faith, the consolatjous OF religion.
Almost sing]e-handed this great and
good priest labored for two and twenty
wears in this most isolated and trying
mission, bearing the light of the gospel
and the bread OF life through the forest
and 1noorland. along bleak and danger
Gus coasts, over marshes and noun
tains, across extensive bays to the
harbors and haunts OF the faithful. He
was worthy son and faithful disciple
Of the seraphic ST. Francis, whose chill
dren contributed SO much to keep alive
the spark Of faith in holy Ireland during
the dark days Of oppression and perse-
cution. In January, 1875, the mission
was erected into vicariate by the same
lllustrious pontiff. Plus VI, and DE-.
O'Donneu was consecrated on the 21st
of September following. in Quebec,
with the title Of Bishop Of Thyatira in
partibus. He worked late and early
till 1906, when, full OF years and weary
from labor, he retired to his convent
home in Ireland, bearing with him the
best and kindliest wishes Of all classes,
rich and poor, government and people.
He died four years afterwards, and was
buriedin the old Abbey Church OF Clon-
mel within few miles Of his native vii
lage home .Knocklofty. In this old chapel
he received his first grace and gift of
faith; here he prayed when boy; here
he was consoled and strengthened by
the reception OF the sacraments; here
too, as priest and bishop, he sacrificed
on the same altar, and here his mortal
remains lie buried; but we have as yet
L L.